The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-10-13
A SERENADE.
A ''Sufferer" Takes the Public Some
what Into His COnHdence.

''Sufferer'' Takes the Public SOme-
what Into His Confidence.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE1
1t was my good fortune some weeks ago
to hear serenade rendered by a gentle
man whose prowess, with the harmonica,
entities him to at least passing recogni-
ton in the columns of the CHRoNICLE.
Everything was propitious. was visit
ing "a raj G and radiant maiden
''Whose every tone
Was muSic'S own
Like those of morning BIRDS ~
''TO whom the better elements
And kindly stars had given
"A form SO fair, that like the air,
Twas less of earth than heaven"
1t was drawing towards midnight, but
had seen time draw that way before and
so felt no uneasiness; time often draws
towards midnight, I've heard the very best
people say so, people who could have had
no conceivable motive for coloring or con
cealing the real truth; people to whom
time had become indispensable, yea, who
bought the very necessaries of life on time.
| may repeat, then, without fear of con
tradiction, that it was drawing towards
midnight when suddenly, at the gate only
a few PAGES from the parlor door, was
heard the sound of harmonica. My fair
companion and | both knew that it was
characteristic of great musicians to be
thoroughly absorbed in their own music
self centred as it were, and needless of in
terruptiOn. So for the better application
of this test, she opened softly the door,
while hurled through its breach, in re-
spective and respectful succession, an
andiron, pair of tongs, a shovel, and
lastly the traditional poker. But never
| did Mozart respond to the test of true mu
sical greatness better than did this knight
| Of thah har, ,aitb bar ar1li
neither shovel nor poker, redolent as they
all were of home associations and freside
enjOyments, could WOO him from his tune
| ful labor of love or unclasp his lips from
| the caress of his chosen instrument.
| But if he answered this test trump lant-
ly, more than triumphantly did he answer
the second Carcassi, in work lying be-
fore me, says, each note has REST, or
SILENCE, which corresponds with it the
note in value" This may be so in the
case of ordinary musicians; but my com
panion and l both thought that our sere-
| nader's rests, or silences, were of far grea-
ter value than his notes. ! have never
heard such mastery and thrilling rests as
were his. In fact, my companion declar-
ed that, though she had listened to many
famous musicians, she had never before
been so impressed with the beauty the
value, yea, the dire necessity Of occasional
rests.
Then, too, the longer silences-those be
tween the various pieces-were even more
enjoyable because more extended. But
what shall say of the final rest, when the
harmonica was sheathed and naught heart
but the retreating footsteps of the min
strel? No pen, no artists brush, no clothes
brush, tesh-brush, backing brush, o.
tooth brush could do justice to the wizart
spell, the rhythmic trance, the holy calm
that succeeded. We both, involuntaril,
/ and simultaneously, breathed the praye
7 that this final rest might prove but tn
blessed harbinger of a deeper and sweete
/ rest-a rest forever unbroken.
\ SUFFERER,